Features

Match Report

The Report: Blues 4 Millwall 0

Blues’ recent run of fine home form continued with an impressive 4-0 win against Millwall at St. Andrew’s on Tuesday evening.

Full-back David Murphy was the unlikely scored goalscoring hero as he struck twice in the first-half, with Tom Adeyemi netting a third in the 69th minute and Jesse Lingard scoring late on.

Lee Clark made just one change to the starting XI that lost to Reading at the weekend, with Andrew Shinnie replacing Paul Caddis and the former Swindon man dropping to the bench.

The Blues boss also elected to change his formation from a 3-4-3 to a 4-2-3-1 line-up, and it caused plenty of problems for the visitors.

Blues had much the better of the opening play and Millwall were largely pinned back in their own half.

With just ten minutes gone the hosts had a golden opportunity to take the lead after being awarded a penalty when Jesse Lingard was tripped as he bore down on goal.

The Millwall players protested furiously to referee Andy Woolmer, claiming the initial foul was outside the area. But much to their delight, Lingard’s subsequent spot kick was comfortably saved by Lions goalkeeper David Forde.

Lingard then sent in a terrific cross from the right with was met by a diving Murphy, but his header was well-saved by Forde.

However, the full-back wasn’t to be denied and moments later he fired his team into a deserved lead on 19 minutes. Andy Shinnie’s cross found Murphy at the far post and he made no mistake as he drilled a powerful low shot into the far corner of the net.

Blues were not content to just sit back though and they continued to pose an attacking threat.

Chris Burke was next to try his luck with an excellent effort from 20 yards, which was well-saved by Forde at full stretch.

But the Millwall stopper was impotent to prevent Murphy scoring his second goal of the match after 34 minutes when he curled a peach of an effort into the top corner of the net direct from a free-kick on the right hand side of the box.

With half-time approaching Callum Reilly came close for Blues with a stinging shot that inched just wide of the post.

Millwall made a bright start after the break and started firing plenty of long balls into Darren Randolph’s area without really troubling the Blues keeper.

The game was ebbing and flowing now with most of the play taking place in the centre of the park. That was until Blues it made it 3-0 courtesy of Tom Adeyemi.

Shinnie’s shot was saved by Forde, but the Millwall stopper was only able to push the ball out as far as the Blues midfielder who coolly dinked it over the hapless custodian to make it 3-0 to Blues.

Murphy then came desperately close to claiming his hat-trick after 79 minutes when he sent in another powerful free-kick, but this time Forde was able to tip ball behind.

With just a minute of normal time remaining Lingard capped off another great night in B9 as he headed home Blues’ fourth goal of the night and his fifth goal in just three appearances.

Clark’s side now entertain Bolton on Saturday when they will be looking to pick up another three-point haul heading into the international break.

Blues made it three home wins in three with a fantastic 4-0 victory against Millwall.